Distinctive notice for different symbology information

ABSTRACT

An indicia reader is adapted for hand held operation to read information bearing indicia (IBI) at a point of transaction (POT) and is operated by: configuring the indicia reader in a store to provide at least one store specific indicia read notice; reading an IBI at a POT with the indicia reader and providing the at least one store specific indicia read notice to a customer when each IBI is read.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/805,009 for Distinctive Notice for Different SymbologyInformation filed Dec. 18, 2012 (and published Apr. 11, 2013 as U.S.Patent Publication No. 2013/0087618), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,189,669, whichclaims the benefit of International Application No. PCT/CN2010/000928for Distinctive Notice for Different Symbology Information filed Jun.24, 2010 (and published Dec. 29, 2011 as WIPO Publication No. WO2011/160256). Each of the foregoing patent applications, patentpublications, and patent is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to indicia reading devices, and moreparticularly to an indicia reader having distinctive notice fordifferent symbology information.

BACKGROUND

Indicia reading devices (also referred to as scanners, laser scanners,image readers, indicia readers, etc.) typically read data represented byprinted or displayed information bearing indicia (IBI), (also referredto as symbols, symbology, bar codes, etc.) For instance one type of asymbol is an array of rectangular bars and spaces that are arranged in aspecific way to represent elements of data in machine readable form.Indicia reading devices typically transmit light onto a symbol andreceive light scattered and/or reflected back from a bar code symbol orindicia. The received light is interpreted by a processor which performssignal and/or image processing to extract the data represented by thesymbol. Optical indicia reading devices typically utilize visible orinfrared light. Laser indicia reading devices typically utilizetransmitted laser light.

One-dimensional (1D) indicia readers are characterized by reading datathat is encoded along a single axis, in the widths of bars and spaces,so that such symbols may be read from a single scan along that axis,provided that the symbol is sampled with a sufficiently high resolutionalong that axis.

In order to allow the encoding of larger amounts of data in a single barcode symbol, a number of 1D stacked bar code symbologies have beendeveloped which partition encoded data into multiple rows, eachincluding a respective 1D bar code pattern, some or all of which must bescanned and decoded, then linked together to form a complete message.Scanning still requires relatively higher resolution in one dimensiononly, but multiple linear scans at different locations on a seconddimension are needed to read the whole symbol.

A class of bar code symbologies known as two dimensional (2D) matrixsymbologies have been developed which require image based reading andoffer greater data densities and capacities than 1D symbologies. 2Dmatrix codes encode data as dark or light data elements within a regularpolygonal matrix, accompanied by graphical finder, orientation, andreference structures.

Often times an indicia reader may be portable and wireless in naturethereby providing added flexibility. In these circumstances, suchreaders form part of a wireless network in which data collected withinthe terminals is communicated to a host computer situated on a hardwiredbackbone via a wireless link. For example, the readers may include aradio or transceiver for communicating with a remote computer.

Efforts regarding such systems have led to continuing developments toimprove their versatility, practicality, and efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary indicia reader system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary indicia reader scanningnear and far indicia.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of an exemplary indiciareader.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partially cutaway side view of an exemplaryindicia reader.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for operating an indicia reader.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments may be invarious forms and the exemplary embodiments should not be construed aslimited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theserepresentative embodiments are described in detail so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey thescope, structure, operation, functionality, and potential applicabilityto those skilled in the art. Wherever possible, the same referencenumbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same orlike parts. The term “scan” or “scanning” used herein refers to readingor extracting data from an information bearing indicia (or symbol). Theterm imaging used herein refers to the taking or creation of anelectronic image.

Exemplary methods may be conceived to be a sequence of steps or actionsleading to a desired result and may be implemented as software. While itmay prove convenient to discuss such software as if were embodied by asingle program, most implementations will distribute the describedfunctions among discrete (and some not so discrete) pieces of software.These pieces are often described using such terms of art as “programs.”“objects.” “functions.” “subroutines,” “libraries,” “.dlls.” “APIs.” and“procedures.” While one or more of these terms may find favor in thepresent description, there is no intention to limit the invention to thedescribed configurations.

In general, the sequences of steps in the present methods requirephysical manipulation of physical quantities. These quantities take theform of optical, electrical, or magnetic signals capable of beingstored, transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. Thoseof ordinary skill in the art conveniently refer to these signals as“bits”, “values”, “elements”, “symbols”, “characters”, “images”,“terms”, “numbers”, or the like. It should be recognized that these andsimilar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physicalquantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

With respect to the software described herein, those of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that there exist a variety of platforms andlanguages for creating software for performing the methods outlinedherein. Those of ordinary skill in the art also recognize that thechoice of the exact platform and language is often dictated by thespecifics of the actual system constructed, such that what may work forone type of system may not be efficient on another system. It shouldalso be understood that the methods described herein are not limited tobeing executed as software on a computer or DSP (Digital SignalProcessor), but may also be implemented in a hardware processor. Forexample, the methods may be implemented with HDL (Hardware DesignLanguage) in an ASIC.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary scanning system configuration, wherein aplurality of indicia readers 112 are operated and utilized whereinformation bearing indicia (IBI) are present. The indicia readers maybe stationary or hand-held and may be either laser indicia readingdevices (or laser scanners) utilizing transmitted laser light or opticalindicia reading devices utilizing image capturing devices for extractingdata from IBIs.

An operator may aim a hand-held indicia reader 112 at a targetcontaining an IBI, dataform, text, or other data to be collected andactuate a button or trigger 115 on the indicia reader to control full orpartial operation of the reader, such as to activate scanning of an IBI.An IBI or dataform may be an originally machine generated symbology thatis also machine readable, such as a 1-D barcode, a 2-D barcode, a 1-Dstacked barcode, a logo, glyphs, color-codes, and the like.

An exemplary indicia reader 112 may be a mobile device, such as a handheld scanner, a portable data terminal (PDT), personal digital assistant(PDA), mobile phone, etc. A Portable Data Terminal, or PDT, is typicallyan electronic device that is used to enter or retrieve data via wirelesstransmission (WLAN or WWAN) and may also serve as an indicia reader usedin stores, warehouse, hospital, or in the field to access a databasefrom a remote location. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are handhelddevices typically used as a personal organizer, and may have many usessuch as calculating, use as a clock and calendar, playing computergames, accessing the Internet, sending and receiving E-mails, use as aradio or stereo, video recording, recording notes, use as an addressbook, and use as a spreadsheet.

An exemplary indicia reader 112 may have a number of subsystemssupported by a housing 117 configured to be hand held, such as byutilization of a handle portion 111. An exemplary indicia reader 112 mayhave a number of feedback subsystems for providing an operator withfeedback as to operation or functionality of the reader. Exemplaryindicia reader feedback subsystems may be a display 116 for providingvisual feedback, a LED 154 for providing visual feedback, a beeper 158for providing audio feedback or a speaker 160 for providing audiofeedback.

A speaker is a device for converting electrical energy into acoustical(sound) signal energy that is radiated into a room or open air. The partof the speaker that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy isreferred to as the motor, or voice coil. The motor vibrates a diaphragmthat vibrates the air in immediate contact with it, producing a soundwave corresponding to a pattern of original speech, music, or otheracoustic signal. Speakers have volume and tone control to allow a userto vary the volume, quantity, and quality of sounds. Speakers typicallyhave a relatively flat output frequency response over a frequency rangefrom 500 to 10,000 Hz and are suitable for providing audio feedback.

A beeper or sounder is an electroacoustic transducer that convertselectrical energy into mechanical energy to emit a more limited volume,quantity, and quality of sounds than a speaker. Beepers have lesscontrollability than speakers. Beepers typically have an erratic outputfrequency response over a frequency range from 500 to 6000 Hz whichdrops off dramatically at 6000 Hz and is not suitable for providingaudio feedback other than simple tones. A typical usage of a beeper isto provide audio feedback of a successful read or an error condition. Ifthe beeper is used to indicate an error condition, only one error toneis used for every kind of error and therefore does not provide goodfeedback to the operator as to the cause of the error condition. Anexemplary beeper is part number MLT-03GC manufactured by Star Micronics.

Exemplary indicia readers may be in communication (wired or wireless) toa local transaction processing system 140, such as a cash register,store station or employee station or local host/server 122 directly orthrough a charging station or base 138. An exemplary local server 122 orindicia reader 112 may be in communication with network 120 and or aremote/web server 134.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary indicia reader 112 configured to scan anIBI located a first distance D1 from the reader in a far scan mode andscan an IBI located a second closer distance D2 from the reader in anear scan mode, wherein the reader alternates scanning in the near andfar scan modes with successive pulls on the trigger 115 or pushes on abutton.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary indicia reader 112 may comprise a numberof exemplary subsystems, such as laser scan engine 380 or laser scanningreader system for reading indicia on a target T. The laser scanningreader system may comprise a laser controller 384 for controlling alaser generator 388 for generating a laser light beam which is directedonto a folding mirror 390 which then directs the laser light beam to anoscillating or rotating scan mirror 392 to project a scanning patternonto target T. The laser scanning pattern is reflected off of the targetand redirected by scan mirror 392 into a receive path comprising a laserlight pass filter 396, a photodiode 400, an amplifier 404 and adigitizer 408.

Laser light may be described as a spatially coherent, narrowlow-divergence beam of light.

Digitizer 408 may convert an analog signal output by the photodiode intoa digital signal representative of the light reflected off of thetargets.

Exemplary laser scanners use a laser beam as the light source and employeither a reciprocating mirror or a rotating prism to scan the laser beamback and forth across the IBI. One or more photodiodes are used tomeasure the intensity of the light reflected back from the bar code. Thelight emitted by the reader is rapidly varied in brightness with a datapattern and the photodiode receive circuit is designed to detect onlysignals with the same modulated pattern.

An exemplary photodetector or photosensor may be comprised of one ormore photodiodes that converts incident light energy into electriccharge that is an output signal representative of light reflected off anIBI. The output of the photodetector may be processed utilizing one ormore functions or algorithms to condition the signal appropriately foruse in further processing downstream, including decoding of IBIs.

An exemplary indicia reader 112 may comprise one or more optical imageengines (image indicia reader systems or optical scan engines) 414 forreading indicia on a target T. Optical image engines capture and readimages to detect and decode IBIs located within the captured images. Theoptical image indicia reader systems may comprise one or moreillumination source(s) 422 for illuminating an IBI with a beam orpattern of incoherent light in the form of an illumination pattern, animage sensor 432 for converting light reflected off a target T having anIBI provided thereon into representative output signals thereof and anaiming pattern generator 424 for projecting an aiming pattern on thetarget. The output signal of the image sensor may be processed utilizingone or more functions or algorithms to condition the signalappropriately for use in further processing downstream, includingdecoding of IBIs.

An exemplary image sensor converts light or other electromagnetic energyreflected off of a target and provides an output signal representativethereof. Image sensors may be an array of pixels adapted to operate in aglobal shutter or full frame shutter, mode or alternately operate in arolling shutter mode. It may be a color or monochrome 2D solid stateimage sensor implemented in any of CCD, CMOS, NMOS, PMOS, CID, CMD,back-illuminated technologies. The imager may be either a progressive orinterleaved imager. The image sensor may contain an array of lightsensitive photodiodes (or pixels) that convert incident light energyinto electric charge. Many solid state image sensors also allow regionsof a full frame of image data to be addressed.

Other exemplary reader subsystems or components supported by the housingmay include one or more local or on board processor(s) 170, local memory172, a battery 218, a display 116, a key pad 214, and a wirelesscommunications module 180. The subsystems may communicate via one ormore bus 168, data lines or other signal or data communication form. Theindicia reader may communicate with one or more local processor(s) 118,a local host/server 122, local memory 166, network 120, or remote serverhost/server 134.

Indicia reader 112 may have a number of feedback subsystems forproviding an operator with feedback as to operation or functionality ofthe reader. Exemplary indicia reader feedback subsystems may be adisplay 116 for providing visual feedback, a LED 154 for providingvisual feedback, a beeper 158 for providing audio feedback or a speaker160 for providing audio feedback and a vibration driver 162 forproviding tactile feedback.

Communications module 180 may provide a communication link from imagingreader 112 to other indicia readers or to other systems such as aserver/remote processor 134.

The processor(s) may be located on board or within the housing withother subsystems. The particulars of the functionality of theprocessor(s) and the reader may be determined by or based uponconfiguration settings or data which may be stored in firmware, remoteor local memory. Configuration settings may be arranged as parametertables.

An exemplary processor may be a mixed-signal array with on-chipcontroller devices designed to replace multiple traditional MCU-basedsystem components with one single-chip programmable device. It mayinclude configurable blocks of analog and digital logic, as well asprogrammable interconnects.

The reader subsystems in the reader may be connected by one or more bus168, data lines or other signal or data communication form. Exemplaryforms may be an Inter-IC bus such as a two wire interface (TWI),dedicated data bus, RS232 interface, USB, etc.

The processor(s) may include a predetermined amount of memory forstoring firmware and data. The firmware may be a software program or setof instructions embedded in or programmed on the processor(s) whichprovides the necessary instructions for how the processor(s) operate andcommunicate with other hardware. The firmware may be stored in the flashmemory (ROM) of the processor(s) as a binary image file and may beerased and rewritten. The firmware may be considered “semi-permanent”since it remains the same unless it is updated. This firmware update orload may be handled by a device driver.

The processor(s) may be utilized to perform a number of functionaloperations, which may involve the performance of a number of relatedsteps, the particulars of which may be determined by or based uponconfiguration settings stored in firmware or memory which may be any oneof a number of memory types such as RAM, ROM, EEPROM, etc. In additionsome memory functions may be stored in memory provided as part of theprocessor(s).

Exemplary functions of the processor(s) may be controlling operation thescan engine, decoding functions and operator interface functions.Operating software may be utilized to operate the processor(s) for suchfunctions seemingly simultaneously or in a multitasking role. Anexemplary image reader operating software architecture may be organizedinto processes or threads of execution.

Processor(s), memory and associated circuitry which perform or controlthe exemplary scan and decoding functions may be provided in the scanengine or on associated circuit boards which are located within thehousing of the reader. Decoding is a term used to describe theinterpretation of a machine readable code contained in the photodetectoroutput signal. The processor(s) may be located on board or within thehousing with other subsystems.

An exemplary function of the processor(s) may be to decode machinereadable symbology provided within the target or captured image. Onedimensional symbologies may include very large to ultra-small, Code 128,Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, Code 93, Code 11, Code 39, UPC, EAN, MSI,or other 1D symbologies. Stacked 1D symbologies may include PDF, Code16K, Code 49, or other stacked 1D symbologies. 2D symbologies mayinclude Aztec, Datamatrix, Maxicode, QR-code, or other 2D symbologies.

Operation of the decoding, which may be executed in a user or factoryselectable relationship to a scanning routine, may be governed byparameters or configuration settings. Combinations of scanning anddecoding parameters together define scanning-decoding relationships ormodes which the reader will use. Two exemplary scanning modes may becontinuous or discontinuous. In the continuous mode (also referred to ascontinuous scanning mode, continuous streaming mode, streaming mode,fly-by scanning mode, on the fly scanning mode or presentation mode) thereader is held in a stationary manner and targets (such as symbolslocated on packages) are passed by the reader. In the continuous mode,the reader takes continuous scans one after another (seriatim) andcontinuously decodes or attempts to decode some or all scanned targets.Discontinuous mode is a mode wherein scanning and/or decoding stops oris interrupted and initiated with an actuation event, such as pulling ofa single pull trigger 115, a timeout, or a successful read to restart.An exemplary utilization of the reader in discontinuous mode is via handheld operation. Decoding stops once the indicia reader is no longertriggered. The discontinuous mode is typically initiated because theoperator knows a symbol is present.

Exemplary indicia readers may use memory or firmware to store readersettings or reader configuration settings. Exemplary configurationsettings may be selection of scanning distance, trigger functionality,pre-defined bar code output data based on the scan input, continuousscanning mode, discontinuous scanning mode or routine, decoding mode orroutine, I/O configurations, symbology enablement, output interfacefunctionality, min/max symbology character lengths, scan engineselection, illumination functionality, settings that affect thefunctional operation of the processor(s), which codes are enabled forprocessing, aimer operation, engine orientation, illumination,photosensor functionality, software control, sales tracking or warrantytracking, reader capabilities, speaker functionality, speaker control,beeper functionality, notification LED functionality etc.

Readers and a host system may be equipped with the ability toautomatically query and communicate data, such as configuration settingsor firmware amongst each other. Upgrading firmware from host to readerand duplicating configuration settings may be performed without humanintervention to ensure readers are operating at the same revision andhave the same configuration settings reduces user frustration, downtime, data integrity and increase efficiencies.

At predetermined time intervals a host system may broadcast variousinformation, such as firmware revision, configuration settings, etc. Thehost may then download the newer files and update readers during a timeof inactivity. Readers may use on board memory or firmware flash memoryto store configuration settings.

Readers may be configured via serial connection using serial commands. AGUI interface may be utilized for creating or reading serial commands,such as Visual Menu or similar such product. This may be done locally orremotely by connecting the optical reader either directly or through anetwork (such as the internet) to a remote computer and having theremote computer provide software upgrades.

Software upgrades may be necessary for migration from one reader to newor other readers, possibly different manufacturers. Upgrading may besimplified if the configuration of the reader being replaced is matchedor matches the configuration of the equipment that it is replacing.

If reader software is replaced, the reader may have the ability toautomatically read out configuration settings information in memory andallow the software to adapt and use different methods of control, ordifferent methods of decoding, etc.

An exemplary embodiment for upgrading may be to provide a PC basedsoftware tool to read out the non-default configuration settings from atarget reader device (the one being replaced) through a serialcommunication and then to flash the same or equivalent settings into thereplacement equipment. This may be considered a direct configurationmapping method, that is, reading the configuration settings on a (old)Device A and flashing them into a (new) Device B.

Another exemplary embodiment may be to provide a PC based software toolthat analyzes output scanned data of a known information bearing indiciafrom a target reader (the one being replaced) and compares it with theoutput scanned data from the replacement reader. The software tool mayinterpret how the existing device is configured based on the differencebetween the two sets of scanned data. After interpolation of theconfiguration settings of the replacement reader, the software toolwould configure the replacement reader to match the old or replacementreader. This may be considered indirect mapping, wherein the softwaretool interpolates the inner settings of an existing device from itsoperation, rather than by direct read out from memory or firmware.

Either exemplary embodiment may be integrated with a cross-browser,client-side DHTML menu builder such as Visual Menu. The configuration ofa reader may be read out once and then propagated many times usingwireless or over-the-net configuration utilities, hard copy or videodisplay menuing or other suitable means.

A user may update or replace one or more configuration settings orconfiguration setting data utilizing a remote updating system which maybe done by connecting the reader either directly or through a network(such as the internet) to a remote processor. With appropriate software,the remote processor may be programmed to read configuration settingsfrom the reader, such as software configuration. The remote processormay read the configuration setting data and utilize that data whendownloading updates or new software. An operator may request from theremote processor for a software update. The request would be received byeither computer, which could read the current software configurationresident on the optical reader and determine the appropriate update orreplacement software.

In an exemplary embodiment, an indicia reader may be configured byreading IBIs from a user's application to configure the reader for setupin their application.

Communications module 180 may provide a communication link from imagingreader 112 to other indicia readers or to other systems such as aserver/remote processor 134.

An exemplary processor may be a mixed-signal array with on-chipcontroller devices designed to replace multiple traditional MCU-basedsystem components with one single-chip programmable device. It mayinclude configurable blocks of analog and digital logic, as well asprogrammable interconnects.

The reader subsystems in the reader may be connected by one or more bus168, data lines or other signal or data communication form. Exemplaryforms may be an Inter-IC bus such as a two wire interface (TWI),dedicated data bus, RS232 interface, USB, etc.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary indicia reader 112 includes an imagingassembly 114, a LED 154, a beeper 158 and a speaker 160 supported by ahousing 117. A transparent window 176 protects the imaging assembly 114and is integral with the housing.

In an exemplary embodiment, the indicia reader may identify particularbarcodes according to rules defined by an establishment, such as a storeto provide store customers distinctive and perceivable barcode readnotices which may be customized as desired. A notice may be receivedonce a targeted barcode is scanned for fast identification of theparticular barcodes. The customer may easily get scan information in aperceivable way.

An exemplary use of an indicia reader is as the primary or sole scannerat a customer point of transaction (POT) in an establishment. Primarymay mean the scanner at a POT is used to scan or image items more oftenthan any other scanner or imager at the POT. A transaction may be any ofa number of events that occur between a customer and an establishment,such as a store. The events may involve such things as exchange ofmonetary funds, payment for merchandise or service, return ofmerchandise, picking up merchandise that has already been paid for, orcontracting for a service (such as leasing or renting).

As the primary scanner, merchandise with indicia may be read by it sothat data decoded therefrom may be used for a stock keeping system (suchas SKU) functionality such as sales, price look up, inventory, etc.

The perceptible read notices may be defined by rules defined by storesbased on the information encoded in the barcode and may be establishedby conditions such as particular types of barcodes, one or severalspecial barcodes, country information encoded in barcodes, etc. Anycondition based on information encoded in the barcode may be used as anotice rule. Notice rules may be defined by more than one condition.

Read notices inform customers if a targeted barcode is scanned or notand may be customized to please customers. Examples of read notices aredistinctive beeper tones, customized music, a distinctive LED blinkmode, a vibration with a special period, etc. Software defining the readnotice rules may be downloaded from a host processor, a network, otherscanners, etc.

In an exemplary embodiment, an indicia reader is provided with an audiospeaker driven by a programmable electrical audio signal wherein thereader stores audio messages within memory. Different barcodes wouldcause the processor to send different audio messages to the speaker tobe broadcast by the speaker to provide audio voice synthesizedinformation. An exemplary speaker is part number SCG-16A manufactured byStar Micronics.

In an exemplary embodiment, message and speaker operational settings maybe part of the configuration settings, which may be changed by a storepost manufacturing of the reader or changed at a POT by a customer.

Exemplary distinctive audio messages for a read notice may be the priceof the item bearing the barcode, the item description, item on salenotification, item on sales savings information, etc. For example, thereader may be configured to provide a distinctive notice when an item onsale has been scanned to notify a customer that he is saving money.

In an exemplary embodiment, a store creates one or more store specificscanner notice configuration setting profiles in a host server anddownloads those profiles to scanners in communication with the hostserver.

In an exemplary embodiment, a store creates a store specific scannernotice configuration setting profile in one scanner and then uploadsthat profile to a host server to download to other scanners incommunication with the host server.

In an exemplary embodiment, a store creates a store specific scannernotice configuration setting profile in one scanner and then uploadsthat profile to other scanners in communication with the host serverusing the host server as the conduit for the upload.

In an exemplary embodiment, a store creates a store specific scannernotice configuration setting profile in one scanner and then wirelesslyuploads that profile to other scanners in wireless communication withthe updated scanner.

In an exemplary embodiment, a store stores in a host server profiles forcustomers, including scanner configuration settings defining customerspecific scanner rules. The store provides at a POT a data reader forobtaining information (such as identification) from an informationbearing medium, such as a card having a magnetic strip (mag strip) orsymbol indicia (such as one or two dimensional symbologies), an RFIDinstrument, biometric information such as a fingerprint, etc., and acustomer presents an identification bearing instrument at the POT to beread by the data reader. Once the customer is identified at the POT, thestore may download to the scanner at the POT configurations settings toprovide the user distinctive notices when barcodes are scanned at thatPOT. For example, the scanner may be configured to provide productidentification and/or price information for each scanned barcode in alanguage specific to that customer, such as Spanish, German, Chinese,etc. Other customer specific configurations may be the pitch, volume,voice gender, type of music, etc. of the audible feedback.

In an exemplary embodiment, the operator is provided feedback or alertedfrom a combination of the audible message and a beeper sound or a LEDindicator or a displayed message on a reader display. In an exemplaryembodiment, the LED indicator may provide different color illuminationdependent on the barcode being read.

In an exemplary embodiment, indicia reader read notices may beconfigured by reading IBIs from a user's application to configurereaders to provide distinctive notices for the barcodes read. Referringto FIG. 5, an exemplary method of configuring an indicia reader from auser's application comprises a user scanning a menuing symbology orcommunicating to the reader via an interface (wired or wireless) to putthe scanner in a “set up” mode in a step 510. The set up mode configuresthe reader to permit decoding of a set N number of symbologies. The sizeof set N should be large enough to permit the user to scan all bar codesthat the operator wishes to be part of his scanning application. Amenuing symbology is an indicia bearing information medium which is usedfor programming or configuring a reader rather than for extractingproduct data.

In a step 514, the user scans symbologies that will be part of hisapplication, that is, the symbologies that the user will want to scanwhen the reader is operational.

The codes scanned in the set up mode are not menuing symbologies, butactual user usage data symbologies the user wishes to be able to scan intheir application while the scanner is in a usage or operational mode. Aset of configuration settings are being created based on the symbologiesbeing scanned during step 514 and may include all information which maybe extracted from the scanning and decoding of the bar code, such assymbology types, lengths, size, or other potentially useful data.

Once the user is done scanning the sample codes, he would scan a menubar code, or communicate to the reader via the interface in a step 522to have the reader come out of the “set up” mode and into the use oroperating mode. At this time, the reader may take the configurationsthat were created based on the bar codes scanned and store them in thereader memory. The data collected during the set up mode may be used toprovide distinctive and perceivable barcode read notices, restrict thelengths of bar codes decoded (making sure only the length ranges of agiven symbology which were seen in the “set up” mode are allowed toread), tune the aggressiveness of our decoding based on thesize/resolution of the bar codes, enable the reader to read only thosesymbologies scanned, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the number ofenabled symbologies is less (N-X) in the operational mode than the setup mode.

This exemplary procedure requires no user understanding of bar codesymbologies, or any characteristics which go along with them.

Additional configuration settings that may be input to compliment theset up scanned symbologies may be instructions to effectuate checkcharacters, append modes and other decoding peripherals.

A method of configuring indicia readers is described in commonly ownedU.S. Pat. No. 7,077,321 entitled PORTABLE AUTODISCRIMINATING OPTICALREADER, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

It should be understood that the programs, processes, methods, andapparatus described herein are not related or limited to any particulartype of computer or network apparatus (hardware or software). Varioustypes of general purpose or specialized computer apparatus may be usedwith or perform operations in accordance with the teachings describedherein. While various elements of the preferred embodiments have beendescribed as being implemented in software, in other embodimentshardware or firmware implementations may alternatively be used, andvice-versa. The illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and shouldnot be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. Forexample, the steps of the flow diagrams may be taken in sequences otherthan those described, and more, fewer or other elements may be used inthe block diagrams. Also, unless applicants have expressly disavowed anysubject matter within this application, no particular embodiment orsubject matter is considered to be disavowed herein.

1. A method, comprising: reading a symbol at a point of transaction withan indicia reader; and if the symbol read with the indicia reader is atarget symbol, providing a symbol-specific read notice for the targetsymbol to a customer; wherein the symbol-specific read notice for thetarget symbol is based on information encoded in the target symbol; andwherein the symbol-specific read notice comprises distinctive beepertones, customized music, a distinctive LED blink mode, and/or avibration with a special period.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thesymbol-specific read notice comprises a distinctive beeper tone.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the symbol-specific read notice informs thecustomer if the barcode is scanned or not.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the symbol-specific read notice is defined by rules defined by astore based on the information encoded in the barcode.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, comprising configuring the indicia reader at the point oftransaction to provide the symbol-specific read notice for the targetsymbol.
 6. The method of claim 1, comprising configuring the indiciareader at the point of transaction to provide the symbol-specific readnotice for the target symbol by reading a symbol carried by a customer.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the symbol-specific read noticecomprises at least one of the following: a price of the item bearing thetarget symbol; a description of the item bearing the target symbol; anitem on sale notification; and sales savings information.
 8. The methodof claim 1, comprising: creating a symbol-specific read noticeconfiguration setting profile; and downloading the symbol-specific readnotice configuration setting profile to the indicia reader.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, comprising: creating the symbol-specific read noticeconfiguration setting profile in a first indicia reader; uploading thesymbol-specific read notice configuration setting profile to a hostserver; and downloading the symbol-specific read notice configurationsetting profile to another indicia reader in communication with the hostserver.
 10. The method of claim 8, comprising: creating thesymbol-specific read notice configuration setting profile in a firstindicia reader; and uploading the symbol-specific read noticeconfiguration setting profile to another indicia reader in communicationwith the first indicia reader.
 11. The method of claim 8, comprising:creating the symbol-specific read notice configuration setting profileby reading a symbol carried by a customer, wherein the symbol-specificread notice configuration setting profile comprises a language; andconfiguring the indicia reader to provide the symbol-specific readnotice in the language.
 12. An indicia reader, comprising: an indiciareading assembly for reading a symbol; a notification device fornotifying a customer when a symbol is read; a memory storing programinstructions; and a processor for executing the program instructions,wherein, when the processor executes the program instructions, theindicia reader: reads a symbol at a point of transaction with theindicia reading assembly; if the symbol read with the indicia readingassembly is a target symbol, provides a symbol-specific read notice forthe target symbol to a customer with the notification device; whereinthe symbol-specific read notice for the target symbol is based oninformation encoded in the target symbol; and wherein thesymbol-specific read notice comprises distinctive beeper tones,customized music, a distinctive LED blink mode, and/or a vibration witha special period.
 13. The indicia reader of claim 12, wherein theprogram instructions are stored onto the memory at the point oftransaction.
 14. The indicia reader of claim 12, wherein, when theprocessor executes the program instructions, the indicia readerconfigures the indicia reader to provide the symbol-specific read noticefor the target symbol in response to reading a symbol carried by acustomer.
 15. The indicia reader of claim 12, wherein thesymbol-specific read notice comprises at least one of the following: aprice of the item bearing the target symbol; a description of the itembearing the target symbol; an item on sale notification; and salessavings information.
 16. The indicia reader of claim 12, wherein, whenthe processor executes the program instructions, the indicia readeracquires a configuration setting from a host server to determine thesymbol-specific read notice.
 17. The indicia reader of claim 12,wherein, when the processor executes the program instructions, theindicia reader acquires a configuration setting from another indiciareader to determine the symbol-specific read notice.
 18. The indiciareader of claim 12, wherein: the symbol-specific read noticeconfiguration setting profile comprises a language; and when theprocessor executes the program instructions, the indicia readerconfigures the indicia reader to provide the symbol-specific read noticein the language for the target symbol in response to reading a symbolcarried by a customer.
 19. The indicia reader of claim 12, wherein thesymbol-specific read notice comprises a distinctive beeper tone.
 20. Theindicia reader of claim 12, wherein the symbol-specific read noticeinforms the customer if the barcode is scanned or not.